J-K: Commando killed after gunning down 10 militants in 11 days

Army on Saturday paid last tributes to lance naik Mohan Nath Goswami, a special forces commando who was a part of three back-to-back operations which killed 10 militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

“A special forces commando of the Indian Army has created a unique history of valour and dedication to duty by eliminating 10 militants and capturing one Pakistani militant alive, in 11 days before laying down his life in service of the nation ,” said an Udhampur-based spokesperson.

Lance naik Goswami was killed in Hafurda in Kupwara district on Thursday while battling militants. His mortal remains were laid to rest at his ancestral home in Bindukhatta near Nainital with full military honours. He is survived by his wife and a 7-year-old daughter.

Lance naik Goswami volunteered to join the elite Special Forces of the Indian Army in 2002 and went on to gain the reputation of being one of the toughest soldiers of his unit,” the army spokesperson said.

His seniors said Goswami had always willingly taken part in all missions undertaken by his unit and was a part of numerous successful counter-terror operations in the state.

The first operation was conducted in Khurmur, Handwara, on August 23 which resulted in the death of three LeT terrorists from Pakistan.

He immediately volunteered for a second operation in Rafiabad, Kashmir. There was a fierce gunfight over August 26 and 27, in which three more LeT terrorists were killed.

Lance naik Goswami again volunteered to be part of an operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara, Kashmir. The team managed to kill four militants before Goswami went down to a militant’s bullet.

Anti-Pak slogans raised at funeral

A large number of soldiers, army officers and villagers attended the funeral held at Bindukhatta in Nainital district. Col AS Dabal paid tribute to Goswami on behalf of the ‘9 Para’ special forces unit.

The huge crowd which gathered at the cremation ground raised anti-Pakistan slogans as his body was laid to rest near his father’s grave.

Uttarakhand minister HC Durgapal announced that a road in the village would be named after the martyr. He also promised financial help to the family from the part of the state government.